NFL Network’s Danyelle Sargent on OT Thrillers and Fantastic Finishes

NFL Network’s Danyelle Sargent will be doing a weekly column for BlackSportsOnline.

*******

Week Three in the NFL came to a dramatic conclusion last night in Seattle as the Seahawks and Green Bay Packers fought it out in the Pacific Northwest until (literally) the final play of the game.

By now all those in NFL Nation have either seen or heard about Seattle’s sensational rookie quarterback Russell Wilson’s “Hail Mary” pass that was somehow completed to wide receiver Golden Tate as time expired on the clock. Tate, who seemingly wrestled control of the ball away from Packers’ defensive back, M.D. Jennings, was able to miraculously come up with it and the play was ruled a touchdown, but not before a period of intense drama and controversy to decide the call took place. When the dispute was resolved, the ruling on the field favored Seattle, and much to the dismay of the visiting Packers, the team coached by Pete Carroll and known for its raucous crowd and its “12th Man” ended up on the top end of the Monday Night Matchup.

The very unusual ending to the Seattle-GreenBay game will be talked about for some time, but it also put an exclamation point on a weekend full of fantastic and in some instances, controversial, finishes.

In New Orleans, the Chiefs edged out the Saints in OT, while the Jets topped Miami in another back and forth overtime finale. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders battled in the Bay Area with the Raiders emerging victorious, 34-31. New England and Baltimore renewed their heated rivalry in Charm City and to the chagrin of the Patriots, the much anticipated grudge match resulted in a Ravens’ win. Meanwhile, the Lions and Titans needed overtime to decide the victor in their four-hour extravaganza in Tennessee in which the Titans’ squad won 44-41. And as the two teams amassed 85 total points, every emotional swing you could imagine left fans on the edge of their seats and players leaving the gridiron exhausted.

Now, as we head into Week Four, only Arizona, Atlanta and Houston remain unbeaten.

What have we learned? Simply put, regardless of the outcome, there is no script for what happens on any given Sunday (or Monday, Thursday or Saturday for that matter).

With 10 of the 16 match-ups this week being decided by seven points or less, coaches seemingly in need of more challenge flags, and young stars emerging and showing they have the mettle to entertain fans and bring wins, one thing is for sure – you can’t script this.